The presidential candidate Henrique Gouveia e Melo addressed comments made by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who referred to the former U.S. President Donald Trump as acting like a “Soviet asset.”
“Foreign policy of the Portuguese State is conducted by the Government. Anyone holding the position of President—thus the President of the Republic—should not make personal comments as they represent the Portuguese State,” Gouveia e Melo stated to journalists in the Algarve.
He emphasized that the Portuguese State has alliances with the U.S., saying, “Our common security and defense are very important. I believe such comments should not be made by the President of the Republic.”
“Trump was democratically elected in his country […]. To the best of my knowledge, the U.S. is a great democracy,” he added.
In response to whether such statements, which gained international attention, might create diplomatic issues, Gouveia e Melo remarked, “Only the Americans can decide that,” but reiterated, “The President should not make personal remarks because they represent the Portuguese State, representing all of us. We live in tumultuous international times, and it is important to maintain critical alliances. Foreign policy is defined by the Government. The President is merely a representative of this policy.”
When pressed about the prudence of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s statements, Gouveia e Melo declined to judge, stating, “If it were me, I wouldn’t make them […]. Even if I thought, I wouldn’t express it.”
As a presidential candidate, he was asked about the notion of Trump possibly being a Russian asset, to which he firmly responded, “No, I don’t agree. I think it’s speculation. Trump was democratically elected in his country, and he fully represents that election. To my knowledge, the U.S. is a great democracy.”
The Fleet, security, and government responsibility
Gouveia e Melo defended the Government, which stated that the trip by Mariana Mortágua and others to Gaza on a humanitarian mission is “an autonomous initiative of civil society” and therefore not linked to the Government, meaning it does not have to guarantee the security of the journey.
“If governments were to ensure the safety of all citizens undertaking potentially dangerous actions, it would be very difficult to manage. The deputy will do what she sees fit, but she can’t later expect the Portuguese State to act in a challenging and complex area as we currently face,” he said.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “under international law, there is no legal responsibility on the part of the Portuguese State to protect the ship or its crew.”
However, the Ministry noted that consular protection is “provided, if necessary, to all Portuguese citizens abroad.”
Mortágua warned that the Government has a legal and moral obligation to use “all instruments” to ensure the Humanitarian Fleet reaches “Gaza safely and delivers humanitarian aid” to Palestine.
[Updated at 19:39]
